Contents
Vertebrates and Invertebrates Page 3
Invertebrates that Live in Water Page 4
Amphibians Page 11
Reptiles that Live in Water Page 13
Birds that Live Close to Water Page 15
The Blue Whale Page 17
Points to Remember Page 18
Vocabulary Page 19
Invertebrates do not have a skeleton made
up of bones. Insects, shellfish, coral,
jellyfish and sponges are invertebrates.
Many kinds of vertebrate and invertebrate
animals live in water. They are called
aquatic animals.
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Animals can be divided into two groups - vertebrates and invertebrates.
Vertebrates are animals that have a skeleton made up of bones. Fish,
amphibians, reptiles and mammals are vertebrates.
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VERTEBRATES AND INVERTEBRATES
SHELLFISH
If you have visited a
seashore, you may have
collected a few seashells.
The shell is a part of an
animal that is commonly
called a shellfish.
There are different kinds of shellfish. Some shellfish also live in
ponds, rivers and lakes. Most shellfish are small but a few that
live in the sea are big. Most eat tiny aquatic living things.
The hard shell protects the soft body of the shellfish. Shellfish
do not have a bony skeleton. They are invertebrates.
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INVERTEBRATES THAT LIVE INWATER
CORALS
These are sea animals. They have a soft body and a hard-shell
covering. Corals feed on tiny living things. They look more like plants.
There are many kinds of corals.
Corals are found in
large numbers in
the Andaman and
Nicobar islands.
Among them, the
most spotted are
brain coral, antler
coral, finger coral
and leather coral.
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INVERTEBRATES THAT LIVE INWATER
CRABS AND SHRIMPS
Many kinds of crabs and shrimps live
in seas, lakes, rivers and ponds. They
feed on smaller animals and the
remains of dead animals and plants.
Some types of crabs live on land close
to the water. Shrimps cannot live
outside water.
Shellfish, corals, sponges, jellyfish,
starfish, shrimps and crabs that live in
water use oxygen that is dissolved in
the water to breathe. All these
animals lay eggs.
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Shrimp
Crab
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INVERTEBRATES THAT LIVE INWATER
FISH
Fish live in the sea as well as in rivers, ponds and lakes. They
have a skeleton made up of bones. Most fish have scales on
their bodies. They swim with the help of their fins and breathe
through their gills.
They lay eggs in water from which young ones hatch.
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VERTEBRATES THAT LIVE INWATER
AMPHIBIANS
Animals that live on both land and water are called amphibians.
Amphibians do not have hair, feathers, or scales.
Frogs and salamanders live in water or in wet places. They cannot
live on dry land. Toads mostly live in dry places. You will often see
toads at night below lamp posts, feeding on insects.
Amphibians breathe in air with the help of their lungs and
while in water they breathe through their skin.
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AMPHIBIANS
We usually see frogs in the rainy
season. Frogs mainly feed on insects
like mosquitoes.
Frogs have special body features that
enable them to live in water as well
as on wet land close to water.
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AMPHIBIANS
How is a frog able to live in water as well as on land?
A Frog has moist skin through which it absorbs oxygen under water
and has lungs to breathe on land. These two features help them
adapt to living in water and on land. A tadpole lives in water. It
obtains oxygen from the water with the help of its gills. A tadpole
develops into a frog.
REPTILES THAT LIVE IN WATER
Reptiles are animals with a bony skeleton. A reptile has no hair or
feathers. The body of a reptile is covered with scales. The scales
found on reptiles are different from those found on a fish.
Sea snakes, turtles, crocodiles, garden lizards and iguanas are
reptiles that live in water.
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REPTILES THAT LIVE INWATER
All reptiles have well-developed lungs and breathe in air. Even turtles
and sea snakes that live in water, do so.
Sea turtles and sea snakes live in the ocean. Some types of turtles live in
ponds, lakes and rivers. The marine iguana lives on land and feeds on
algae growing in the sea. Crocodiles live in rivers and lakes. Crocodiles,
iguanas and turtles lay eggs on land. Most sea snakes do not lay eggs.
They give birth to young ones.
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Sea Snake
REPTILES THAT LIVE INWATER
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BIRDS THAT LIVE CLOSE TO WATER
Most water birds live close to
lakes, ponds, rivers, and
wetlands. Wetlands are places
covered with shallow water.
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BIRDS THAT LIVE CLOSER TOWATER
Penguins, pelicans, flamingoes,
ducks, and seagulls are water birds.
Their body structure and webbed
feet make them excellent swimmers.
All kinds of birds lay eggs.
Dolphins and whales are mammals that live in oceans.
Some dolphins live in rivers. Like all other mammals, they have
lungs to breath. They give birth to young ones.
Seals and otters live in water most of the time. They can live on
land too. Seals live in polar regions while otters can live in fresh
water as well as sea water.
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MAMMALS THAT LIVE INWATER
POINTS TO REMEMBER
No matter where we live, our actions affect the plants and animals
that live in water. The wastewater from our homes, fields and
industries finally ends up in rivers, lakes, streams, seas and oceans.
Here are some things you can do to protect the water bodies:
Do not throw paints, oils, or chemicals down the drain.
Minimize the use of chemical fertilizers, insecticides and
pesticides for growing crops.
Turn kitchen waste into compost.
Do not throw flowers, food, plastic bags, idols or any waste
into water bodies.
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POINTS TOREMEMBER
amphibians - animals that can live on land and water
aquatic animals - animals that live in water
invertebrates - animals that do not have a backbone
reptiles - a group of cold-blooded animals which have their skin
covered with scales and reproduce by laying eggs
vertebrate - animals that have a skeleton made up of bones
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VOCABULARY
